Friday, August 30, 2013

Congested Days- Yoga and Weight Loss

Wow...as I was writing about yoga...and the peace it provides, my entire 2 page blog post was deleted by blogger. deep breaths... Talk about a life lesson. I can't remember all of what I typed, but here goes what I can kinda remember. :)

This past week has found me congested…unable to sleep…unable
to breathe.Isn’t it interesting when we
are sick or unable to do self-care practices it is all we can think about?
Well, let me just speak for myself. It’s all I can think about. I’ve had dreams
about getting onto my yoga mat again.

As much as I love my kettlebells, love my jumprope, and have
tried to learn to love running again, NOTHING sustains me like yoga.. on and
off the mat. Now I must warn you, today I am feeling really touchy feely so this post may take on a
sentimental tone.

If you are a repeat reader here you know that my daughter is
going through some pretty difficult times right now. A new diagnosis of a rare
neurological condition that is compromising her spine and overall life and
health has emerged and in the wake of this new diagnosis, I had gone through
several stages of grief. During the denial phase I picked up running again and
felt that I could both literally and metaphorically run from my problems. I wallowed
for sure…sat with ice cream and vegan bars while watching late nite bad tv.

In the midst of all of this there was a nagging at my
spirit. A nagging at my soul. Reminders of my once daily yoga practice started
popping up everywhere. OR I started to notice them everywhere. And as I resumed
my MORNING PAGES I was able to reflect deeply on a previous time of struggle in
my life and all the daily practices that got me through that time.

Now in all fairness, I have been consciously practicing several
of the 8 LIMBS OF the Ashtanga practice for years and years now. I have gone
through periods of daily or once monthly asana (the physical postures)
practice. Saying that to say I found my way to the mat often if only for my
post workout stretching. But, within the past few weeks I have determined that
this urging in my soul to return to daily asana practice is a call that won’t
go unanswered.

When I found my way onto my mat a few weeks ago I knew that
the progression in my physical practice was compromised. Where I was once
flexible I knew that I would find stiffness. I approached my practice with a
beginner’s mind and didn’t think I KNEW anything. I lit my candles, lit my incense
and went straight into Surya Namaskara Aand B. Knowing that my body…my soul knows these postures so well. I told myself
to let go of my ego that kept shouting, “But you should do more. Try more!” and
I finished up with the closing sequence. At that moment, Kennedy came behind me
and rubbed my shoulders. I started crying. Yep. Yoga makes me cry.

With tears spilling over onto the mat (even BEFORE I could
take shavasana), Kennedy said to me “Yoga is good for crying. You twist and
bend it all up…then cry it all out. Good job mom.” And the sobs started…The next
day I was slightly sore and recommitted to my daily practice.

I know that I have readers who come here and love to see my
strength training workouts posted. I can’t say for sure that I won’t be doing
those, but I can say that right now my attention and focus is 100% on my yoga
practice. This leads me to a great question I have gotten asked very often…Is it possible for yoga to be your ONLY
exercise? Can you lose weight and get fit with JUST yoga?

Short answer… Y-E-S. Absolutely.100%(random weight loss stories). Not a doubt in my mind. (Okay you get
the point). Long answer: As you know I promote doing, eating, wearing, living
in whatever way makes sense for YOUR life. I like to use my life and my body as
my teacher. I have seen and felt what yoga can do. When my daily practice was
in full swing, I was fit and trim and because my practice took 1.5-2 hours per
day it was my only means of exercise. Yep. A mat, sometimes a DVD, a bottle of
water and a towel. Let me tell you something…I was a sweaty mess when I was
done. It was amazing. All the teeny tiny muscles get pulled, stretched,
detoxified.

Unlike any other exercise yoga makes you SO super aware of the
foods you eat. You won’t be scarfing down late nite burgers if you have an
early morning yoga practice. With the first twist you will be in agony like no
other! So the daily practice and focus on eating foods that make me feel good
left me with the most amazing body and sense of self.

So, today as this congestion clears up I made my way onto my
mat. Dedicated my practice to God and Kennedy (as always) and got into it.
Although I was (and am) stuffy, I found my peace in Adho Mukha Shvanasana (Down Dog) and after a sweaty
25 minutes of practicing, I closed my practice with shavasana and a prayer. I
feel the slight soreness in my upper body and have had my second bowel movement
of the day at only 12:30pm. I’m yet again remembering all the reasons I love,
love, love my at home Ashtanga yoga practice.

3 comments:

• The 1st step to long term weight decrease to remind or affirm yourself why you wish to lose weight. Whatever your motive, you’ve to suppose that the expenditure of making important changes are value it.

• Taking action – If you’re prepared to take action, then set realistic objectives as well as build up a plan. Like every goal, weight-loss goals required to be smart. However, you need to make sure the objectives you set are extremely clear and specific. Rather than setting an objective to reduce weight, set a precise objective to lose two centimetres of your waistline or walk five KMs a day.Want Ab Training Secrets?• Choose a proper diet – Maintaining a healthy life and balancing the weight is all depends on the diet you choose. So consider a diet that is full of nutrition and weight losing properties. The daily 45minute of cardiovascular session will help you to stay fit as well as trim. Suppose you are the overweight person, you might go for the hour long session.

Aerobic Workout: The aerobic exercises are the best methods of losing weight. Suppose you don’t like exercising in traditional manner then the aerobics is a best choice for you. It also involves doing the nonstop movements on music beats, which makes it the fun exercises. The 1 hour of session for 5 days in a week is been considered perfect for staying fit & lose weight.Motivation is Always Important for Lose Weight

Yoga is one of the best exercise for getting a healthy body and even very much helpful in curing various health issues. So, to get in shape and moreover in a perfect shape, yoga is the best workout one can perform regularly and in addition to that performing basic mudras with the yoga asana regularly can be one of the best workout for you.Start with the basic yoga and then steadily step forward to the other asana as this will help you to perform the asanas correctly and the basic yoga asana performed in the beginning will give your body muscles some flexibility and strength. Stepping forward here we are listing some of the best asana or you can say the most effective Yoga for Weight Loss that will help you lose weight quickly and get a shaped body.

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Ecstatic Being I am

I'm a 34 year old 5 foot fitness loving, tabata doing, kettlebell toting, hot single mommie! I TRAIN exclusively at home for now! Though occasionally you will find me at the gym using the membership that I can't get out of. I live in the abundant possibilities of life and not in its shortcomings. I have 2 Master's degrees in Psychology, and love to help people make the mental and physical connection between health and happiness.